Argentine president blasts incoming leaders in final speech

Supporters of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez flash victory signs as they hold a image of her at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Followers of President Cristina Fernandez filled Plaza de Mayo to say goodbye on the eve of her leaving office. After 8 years in office Fernandez will be replaced by Mauricio Macri on December 10th. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Tens of thousands of supporters jammed Argentina’s most famous square Wednesday night to say goodbye to President Cristina Fernandez, who lauded her government’s achievements while blasting the incoming administration in the same withering tones she aimed at opponents throughout her eight years in office.

As blue and white Argentine flags waved and people cheered on a balmy night, Fernandez gave a speech that was both a recap of her years in power and a clear sign that she does not plan to make things easy for President-elect Mauricio Macri, who will be inaugurated Thursday.

Fernandez addressed the crowd on Plaza de Mayo in downtown Buenos Aires amid widespread criticism for her decision not to attend Macri’s inauguration.

The two spent much of the last 10 days bickering over where the presidential baton and sash would be handed over. Macri wanted to receive them at the Casa Rosada presidential offices from Fernandez, while she insisted the handover happen in Congress. Many Argentines viewed the argument as a national embarrassment.

Without mentioning him by name, Fernandez framed the tiff as Macri’s fault. She also criticized a Wednesday federal court ruling in a case brought by Macri that determined her presidency ended at midnight, saying it would leave Argentina without a president until Macri’s swearing-in at midday Thursday.

“I can’t talk much because after midnight I’ll turn into a pumpkin,” she joked.

Fernandez talked about “an agenda from the outside being imposed on the region,” apparently referring to the United States and others she sees as enemies of Argentina. During her two terms in power, Fernandez frequently accused other countries of meddling in this South American nation’s affairs, though rarely provided details.

For 12 years, Fernandez, and before her, late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, dominated the political landscape. The couple rewrote the country’s social contract, spending heavily on social programs for the poor while passing liberalizing laws, such as legalizing gay marriage in 2010.

They also aligned Argentina with socialist leaders like the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales, who attended Fernandez’s farewell speech.

“She made me proud to be Argentine for the first time in my life,” said onlooker Pablo Vega. “She defended the interests of the country more than anybody.”